It’s unlikely that Arsenal supporters will lose a lot of sleep over this, but their hunt for a number two goalkeeper will need to go on after they’ve missed out on Maty Ryan.
It had been reported earlier in the summer that Mikel Arteta was keen to keep the loanee around on a permanent basis, while it had even been suggested that the deal was in place and he would be their first signing.
Ultimately that’s not going to be the case, as Real Sociedad have announced his signing today:
? OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | Agreement reached with @OfficialBHAFC for the incorporation of @MatyRyan! Welcome Mat!!!#RyanTxuriUrdin | #AurreraReala pic.twitter.com/vRVL2Y8jXf
— Real Sociedad (@RealSociedadEN) July 12, 2021
He does have some experience in La Liga with Valencia so he’s returning to a familiar league, and there will be an expectation that he pushes for the first-team spot next season.
It does leave Arsenal in an interesting situation as Runar Runarsson isn’t good enough to play, while there may be a feeling that Bernd Leno doesn’t fully have Arteta’s trust so they could still sign a starter rather than a backup ahead of next season.
Either way, somebody will have to arrive, but it’s also likely that Leno will be unhappy if he’s likely to lose his place so there’s a delicate balance that Arsenal need to get right with their next move between the sticks.
Martinez should never have been sold…It should have been Leno as he clearly wasn’t the best goalkeeper at the Club.
Meanwhile Ryan looked to be a very capable back-up and presumably wouldn’t have cost too much.
Once again Arsenal are seen to have no clear plan…we seem to be stuck with a first choice keeper who apparently wants to leave and second choice who would struggle for game time in the first or second levels of the EFL…yet he will undoubtedly end up getting pre-season playing time…
What a mess!!
Yes, we sold Martinez on the cheap and it was a mistake – but who cares anymore, let’s move the f#%* on! Man Utd sold Pogba for free and bought him back for 100m! So unless you want us to do the same, shut up and support Leno+whoever comes in.
Arsenal is well known to always want to buy time pretending they are doing something on the transfer market. Just look at their bidding. It’s all peanuts.